When Tom Davies chipped the ball over Claudio Bravo to score his first goal for Everton nearly three years ago, it would have been tough to imagine how much of a conundrum the midfielder would become.
Davies had become a beacon of hope for the future with that goal. Just 18-years old, the local Evertonian dinked the ball over a Champions League winning goalkeeper, following his mazing run through an experience team of champions at Goodison Park.
Several years on, and the now 21-year old is at a crossroads in his career, with no immediate pathway clear for how and where he fits in with his boyhood club.
Marco Silva has made clear that he values the young midfielder considerably, yet game time has become harder and harder to come by for Davies, who often cannot even count on minutes off the bench for the Toffees.
While he has featured regularly and performed well for England Under-21s this season, his international form has not translated to domestic opportunities, even with Everton’s injury problems in the midfield area.
JP Gbamin has missed most of the season so far, while Andre Gomes missed a stretch of fixtures last month, and Davies has still been kept from the line-up with former surplus to requirements man Morgan Schneiderlin favoured instead.
England U21s manager Aidy Boothroyd previously spoke about how a deeper holding role could suit Davies, with the midfielder having excelled in that role for the international side. Marco Silva however, shot that down, claiming his plans for Davies are “so clear”.
But what are these plans? When will we get to see Davies play regularly again and in what role should he expect to occupy?
For right or wrong, Silva has neglected Davies as a promising and developing young prospect. In a number of Everton’s recent fixtures where a midfield spot was up for grabs, Davies should have represented the better short-term creative option and the long-term progressive choice. Instead, 29-year Schneiderlin was chosen, and he largely underwhelmed.
Davies has shown the potential and ability to fill a role that Silva desperately needs to fill, and particularly with Gbamin’s injury lay-off having been extended by three months, Silva needs to be more pragmatic.
With Fabian Delph missing for Saturday’s game against West Ham, and with Silva’s back against the wall with the game now a ‘must-win’, now is the opportune time for him to take the restraints off of Davies and allow him to battle to prove his worth.
Silva’s defiant stance that Davies cannot and will not be utilised in another position isn’t positive for him or for Davies, as it suggests an unwillingness to compromise.
Perhaps Davies won’t suit that role, but Silva would be unwise not to attempt to try him out, especially given his precarious position as Everton manager.
With the same tired system and the same tired personnel not getting results week after week, it might be time for Silva to attempt once last throw of the dice in attempt to regain some of the trust he has lost on Merseyside, as well as save his job.
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